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Lifestyles

HOME HELP: Weekly home help with items on fireplace safety, how to hire a painter, a money-saving tip and more. By GHNS

ASK THE VET: Is a homemade, raw diet OK for dogs? -- Q: A friend of mine feeds her dog a raw diet. Is it common for people to prepare foods for their pets? A: Great question. The answer is no, we don’t see many pets being fed diets exclusively prepared at home. By Dr. Ray Cahill / North Shore Sunday (Mass.)

PETER CHIANCA: The dog that got away, again - It’s 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning, it’s 16 degrees, and I’m standing outside my house in a ski jacket and plaid pajama bottoms. Halfway down the driveway is our 3-year-old yellow Lab, Penny, staring at me like I’ve gone completely out of my mind. By Peter Chianca, North Shore (Mass.) Sunday.

LOST IN SUBURBIA: The lure of the man cave - My husband wanted his own space equipped with his own stuff where he could go to escape the teenagers and the dog and the wife. The truth was, we already had a cave. But there wasn’t much room down there for cavemen. By Tracy Beckerman, GHNS columnist.

JOHN FORD: Seed packets are like baseball cards -- Anyway, I hope our garden does well this year. I hope we get to try some of those Mortgage Lifters, Boxcar Willies, Black Krim and other tomato varieties. We’re gonna try a garden. I’m looking forward to it. Neosho Daily News (Mo.)

BEER NUT: Holy Mackerel, that's a good beer - When people tried Bob Gordash's homebrewed beer for the first time they'd exclaim, "Holy mackerel, that's a good beer." So Gordash said it was natural to pick Holy Mackerel as the brand name for his beers, which are brewed under contract by a South Carolina brewery. By Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News.

GARY BROWN: Lessons LaLanne taught -- Jack LaLanne is dead. Gone at 96 years of age. A colleague of mine must be right when he observed, “Exercise is overrated.” Canton Repository (Ohio)
* Callout idea: What did you like or remember about Jack LaLanne?

KATHLEEN ANDERSON: Vatican's cover-ups will not push me from my faith -- “Vatican warned Ireland’s bishops not to report child abuse cases.” This is the coup de grâce all Catholics were hoping they would never receive. How abhorrent to think that some of these same men want us to confess our sins to them? The Patriot Ledger (Mass.)

DAVID J. UNDIS: Christina Taylor Green donated organs, so must we -- There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage: Give donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die. The Patriot Ledger (Mass.)

RABBI VAN LANCKTON: Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard should be released -- I disagree strongly with the Scripps Howard News Service editorial opposing the release of Jonathan Pollard, titled “Don’t release Pollard.” Pollard was never indicted for harming the United States. He was not charged with treason or with compromising codes, agents or war plans. The Patriot Ledger (Mass.)

GO GREEN: Follow the link below to go to our collection of February Go Green stories.?

Entertainment

5 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND: This week’s suggestions include going to the theater to see “The Rite” or another film, observing the anniversary of the Challenger disaster, celebrating National Puzzle Day and more. By GHNS.
* Localization tip: Swap out any items here for any big local happenings; list any Challenger-related events; or list places where people can play games, see movies, etc.

GRANLUND CARTOON: Obama moving center -- Dave Granlund on Obama shifting to the center of politics after the State of the Union address. GHNS cartoonist

BRITT CARTOON: Rahm Emanuel's campaign up on blocks. By Chris Britt, State Journal-Register.

EDITORIAL: State of the Union address demands bipartisan action -- Both sides are right; there is no one road to a brighter economic climate and an improved future in America. There is room for ideas from both sides. Messenger Post (N.Y.)
* Callout idea: What common-ground issues do you think Republicans and Democrats can work together on?

MICHELLE TEHEUX: In the end, we're all human beings -- We all witnessed the recent fighting between the two tribes known as the Bears fans and the Packers fans. Other tribes you might know members of include Democrats, Republicans, tea partiers, various unions and fans of certain sorts of pick-up trucks. Pekin Daily Times (Ill.)

Business

DAVE RAMSEY: Dating on a dime - Weekly financial Q&A, with tips on staying on budget while dating, on using a lawn service and more. By Dave Ramsey, GHNS columnist.

MAKING CENTS: Think of your finances as a sports team - In the world of personal finance, you are the owner of the “team.'' It is your responsibility to chart direction and clearly state objectives. By John P. Napolitano, The Patriot Ledger.

CHECKOUT LANE: Do your homework before handing off your dog to a walker - If you're looking for a good dog walker, one of the first things you should evaluate is how much experience a person has in the business. By Shaunna Gately, The Patriot Ledger.
* Localization tip: Talk to dog walkers in your area and add or swap out their quotes and advice.